The UK’s used car market grew by 5.5% to 7,643,180 transactions in 2024, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Marking eight quarters of continuous growth, the year saw 400,488 more vehicles change hands than in 2023, with growth in the new car market fuelling availability and wider choice within the used sector.1 Transactions rose in every month in 2024, as they did in 2023, with Q4 up 4.0% to 1,746,051 units. The top three popular body types remained the same for another year, with superminis taking the top spot,…

New 2024 eBay data reveals residents of Romford, East London, continue to be the UK’s most security- conscious car owners, purchasing the highest number of vehicle security accessories per capita. Following Romford, Llandudno, Conwy, and Redhill in Surrey rank second and third, while Dorchester, Dorset, and Truro, Cornwall, round out the top five. eBay’s analysis, based on vehicle security product purchases throughout 2024, highlights a growing shift towards traditional, non-electronic car security solutions. Security Trends: A Return to Traditional Protection In 2024, searches for traditional security accessories—such as Faraday pouches and steering wheel locks—increased by 2.75% compared to 2023. Most…

Goldilock, the network segmentation and isolation specialist backed by NATO, has announced the expansion of its West Midlands headquarters to support its rapid growth trajectory. The company behind network isolation tool, FireBreak, has expanded its manufacturing and testing facilities in the University of Wolverhampton Science Park to help deliver on increasing numbers of large orders coming in from its growing global customer base. Goldilock is a UK based cyber security scaleup which has developed a unique network isolation and segmentation device that ringfences networks away from the internet to make them inaccessible to hackers. Over the past year, FireBreak has…

Installing a dashcam is an investment in road safety, says breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist. According to GEM, a dashcam can provide crucial evidence in case of collisions or incidents, helping to determine fault and protect against false claims. That’s why a number of insurers offer discounts for drivers who use them. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “If you’re a safe, conscientious driver, a dashcam helps protect your no-claims bonus, as well as allowing you to play your part in reporting offences, road rage incidents and ‘crash-for-cash’ scams.” Price drops in recent years have made dashcams much…

During this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, Volkswagen Group UK is not only celebrating with a visit to the Houses of Parliament to showcase network skills, but also launching a number of new head office apprenticeship roles. On Monday, our National Learning Centre apprenticeship team and seven learners took part in a Society of Manufacturers and Traders event at the Houses of Parliament. They had the chance to showcase their learnings and share their passion for working in the automotive industry with sector leaders and politicians, as well as to undertake an unforgettable guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. Volkswagen…

Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, according to a new survey by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), as manufacturers embark on a ‘green growth decade’. With the UK celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10-16 February), there are few more exciting places for apprentices to be than automotive, as the sector innovates to deliver a new generation of zero emission vehicles. More than £20 billion of investment has been committed to Britain’s EV transition in the past two years alone1 –…

In 1977 West Germany, women did not have the right to work unless they had their husband’s permission. This meant that women who were the heir to their family business could not necessarily be one if they did not have their husband’s permission. Japan has an unusual way of dealing with the so-called ‘problem’ of running a family business without a male successor- they simply adopt a son. Kazunori Kaneko of the consultancy Business Succession Center says that about 10% of the family businesses that do not have a male heir adopt a son. In more recent times, the 2016…

Ferrari North Europe has been invited to join the “National Apprenticeship Week Supporters Club,” which highlights organisations dedicated to continuous professional development through diverse and impactful apprenticeship programmes. Between 10 – 16 February, all 15 UK-based Ferrari Dealerships will open their workshop doors to host a range of events, giving young people a chance to learn about potential opportunities through the “Ferrari North Europe Apprenticeship Programme”, now in its 15th year. The 15 Ferrari dealerships taking part in this activity are as follows: Dealership Date of Activity Carrs, Exeter Friday 14 February Charles Hurst, Belfast Saturday 15 February Dick Lovett,…

Have you ever gone through a whole night worrying about your new job, tossing and turning while your over-worked mind broods over a million things all at once: how well will you perform in your new job or if the new colleagues will respond to you well or are you good enough for the job. It’s pretty scary stuff- walking through the double-sliding doors on your first day, and there it is- that shrinking fear clouding your mind from thinking clearly and positively. But it’s normal to feel high levels of anxiety in situations like this because 1) your about…

Companies developing AI – from consumer apps to systems underpinning public services – will be able to better protect themselves from growing cyber security threats under steps set out by the UK government. The steps announced today under a new Code of Practice will give businesses and public services the confidence they need to harness AI’s transformative potential safely – supporting the government’s Plan for Change as the technology drives forward improvements to public services, turbocharges productivity, and drives growth across the economy.  With cyber attacks or breaches affecting half of businesses in the last 12 months, safeguarding AI systems is crucial as adoption accelerates across the economy.…